Skillman, NJ – Five members of The Sage Colleges' women's tennis team have been recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) as ITA Scholar-Athletes for having a cumulative 3.5 grade point average or higher during the 2014-2015 academic year.
Senior co-captain Kirsten Ackerman (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), senior Katie Schultz (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park), juniors Melissa Estremera (Millbrook, NY/Millbrook) and Kelsey Shive (Rotterdam, NY/Mohonansen) and rookie Lindsay Tolman (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) were all recognized by the ITA for their accomplishments both in the classroom and on the courts. The selections for Ackerman and Schultz, who were also tapped for the team in 2013-2014.
"At its core, college tennis is about higher education! And, our sport has always been a leader when it comes to high performing scholar-athletes," said Timothy Russell, Chief Executive Officer of the ITA. "This group represents the best of the best, as do their coaches who regularly serve as such great teachers and mentors of our sport's finest young people. Hearty and well-deserved congratulations coupled with loud cheers go out to all of these superstars of intercollegiate athletics."
The ITA All-Academic Team award is open to any member program that has a cumulative team grade point average of 3.20 or above (on a 4.00 scale). All eligible student-athletes whose names appear on the NCAA, NAIA or Junior/Community College eligibility form and have competed in one or more varsity matches must average into the GPA for the current academic year (including fall 2014 and spring 2015).
In order to earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status a player must meet the following criteria: 1.) be a varsity letter winner, 2.) have a grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year, and 3.) have been enrolled at their present school for at least 2 semesters (including freshman thorough senior year).
